College students in black, blue, white, and red body paint. Boys in cardboard armor. What is going on?
Chanting … “Battle, Battle 3 o’clock – at the 21st street block”! The red and white team depicting “good” marched a half a mile to the left…the blue and black team depicting “evil” marched a half a mile to the right…to gather a crowd for the “battle” at 3 o’clock. We were met with questionable looks, and questions from curious bystanders, asking what we were doing, why were we yelling, why were we in body paint???
“Come see The Battle at 3 o’clock!”
Then the good and bad “warriors” started their half mile march back to 21st street to illustrate the very real battle that occurs for our souls!
Ephesians 6:10-20 says, “...for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against authorities, against cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand firm…”
The warriors met at 21st street and began to battle! People had gathered from along the boardwalk and the beach, a crowd of over 200 hundred watched as good versus evil fought in the sand. At the end of the battle only two warriors stood, one from the evil team, one from the good team…at last the red and white team stood victorious, and the final good warrior began to speak. “What you saw today was not just a physical battle, but a representation of the spiritual battle for our hearts…”
The gospel was shared through body paint, cardboard armor, and 74 college students who marched over a mile to gather crowd! A true picture that God really does use willing hearts.
After the battle, with body paint still on, all of the students and staff went to talk to the crowd that has gathered and curious bystanders.
Staff woman Julie, and a student Rachel, and I went together to talk to people who were on the beach and had been watching the battle. I will never forget the two girls Julie, Rachel and I talked to! The girls said that they had not watched the battle, that they were too tired, and had only slept 3 hours the night before. They said that they were only at the beach for the day, and didn’t seem too interested in anything we had to say. We kept talking to them, and by the end of 20 or so minutes, we now have a new sister in Christ, and a rededicated believer! God did a full 180 degree turn in their hearts. Julie, Rachel, and I were able to speak truth into these girl’s lives, and they responded with open hearts! It was amazing to see their clarity and receptiveness to the gospel! Stepping from 0% confident of eternal life, a life of without forgiveness and void of Jesus Christ, to accepting Christ by faith as Savior and Lord, 100% confident of eternal life and full forgiveness of sins!
Needless to say, this was the highlight of my week!
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